Randomly exiting ball and game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A random-event structure is disclosed for use with a ball which passes through the structure and exits randomly from one of a plurality of ports. A truncated conical housing encloses a rotary interference and distribution structure for randomly altering the path of a ball through the housing to exit from one of the ports which are spaced apart about the base of the housing.

O United States Patent [151 3,

Hernandez et a1. 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] RANDOMLY EXITXNG BALL AND2,607,592 8/1952 Finnerty ..273/120 R GAME APPARATUS 1,066,107 7/1913Halliday.... ..273/l20 R 1,103,558 7/1914 Berger ..273/120 R [72]Inventors: Edward A. Hernandez, 1500 Elevado Street, Los Angeles, Calif.90026; James Primary EXaminer-Ant0n O. OeChSle v Leeuwen, 4226 McFarlandAssistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Avenue Burbank, n 91505Att0rneyNilsson, Robbins, Wills & Berliner [22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1970 57ABSTRACT PP 18,334 A random-event structure is disclosed for use with aball which passes through the structure and exits randomly from one of aplurality of ports. A truncated conical housing en- [52] US. Cl...273/l38 R closes a rotary interference and distribution Structure formm [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 71/00 domly altering the path of a n through.the housing w cxil Field of Search-m 138 R, 120 144 R from one of theports which are spaced apart about the base of the housing. [56]References Cited 1 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS474,310 5/1892 n sterick n ..2 7/120 R 5 T 3 L l /7 4 L I /9 i 52Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,645,530

Lib/11553. VOA ZEEL/WEN fl jfmw MM 2 uyw RANDOMLY EXITING BALL AND GAMEAPPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Over the years, a vastvariety of games and game structure have evolved. In general, a gameideally provides fascination and education. That is, a game should besufficiently fascinating or intriguing to hold the interest of theparticipants and at the same time it is desirable for the game toprovide some form of training or education.

The elements involved in providing fascination are many and varied;however, among those elements are the presence of moving mechanicalapparatus and the suspense of truly random events. For example, thetraditional classic-event game of tossing a coin probably dates back tothe first minting of coins; however, increased flexibility is providedby a game structure which has several possible random events. That is,while tossing a coin provides only two possible events, e.g., heads ortails, a game structure for defining several events in a random sequenceoffers considerably increased flexibility of use.

A game structure for providing a sequence of random events should alsoinclude some active participation by the players (to stimulateinterest). That is, the structure should be substantially free ofrecurring patterns which would tend to influence the play, yet theplayers should be involved with some physical activity and considerablethought.

One of the training or educational objectives which has been commonlyembodied in gamesinvolves arithmetic training. That is, games whichimprove the dexterity of the players in adding numbers or performingother arithmetic operations have generally performed a very usefulfunction. This consideration is particularly true when the game issufficiently engaging to stimulate prolonged play.

In general, the present invention comprises a game apparatusincorporating player-actuated moving parts to establish a sequence ofrandom events which in the disclosed embodiment, indicate numericalvalues that are summed by the players as their score. Thus, as describedin detail below, the apparatus affords a fascinating game whicheffectively improves the dexterity of the participants in arithmeticallymanipulating numbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, which constitute apart of this specification, an exemplary embodiment demonstratingvarious objectives and features hereof is set forth as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus con structed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through thestructure of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT As required, a detailedillustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed herein. However,it is to be understood that the embodiment merely exemplifies theinvention which may take many different forms that are radicallydifferent from a specific illustrative embodiment disclosed herein.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for theclaims defining the scope and content of the invention.

Referring initially to FIG. I, the game apparatus A hereof is shownpositioned upon a scoring mat M bearing various rounded designations ofthe players scores as indicated by scoring disks D. The apparatus A isphysically independent from the scoring mat M upon which it rests. Inthis regard, the mat M may comprise a soft material as fabric or thelike hearing imprinted numerical designations to assist in keeping thescore in cooperation with the scoring disks D.

In general, the game is played by dropping a ball B (shown in phantom)or the like into one of a group of entry ports 10 after having imparteda spin to the apparatus A by actuating a spinner knob 12. The ball fallsthrough the apparatus A and emerges from one of several exit ports,e.g., ports I4, I5 or 16, to lie in one of several annular troughs 18.

Each of the ports about the apparatus A (including the ports 14, 15 and16) are designated by a numerical symbol 20 so that when the ball exitsfrom one of the ports, a numerical value is manifest which the playersmustrnentally add to the previous score of the instant player. Ingeneral, a player will take several (a predetermined number of) turns atdropping the ball into one of the ports 10 to increase his score as muchas possible prior to passing the ball onto the next player in sequence.

After completing the interval of play, a player places disks D onscoring areas 22 of the mat M to indicate his total score less around-off or remainder number, which is to be remembered by the players.It is to be noted that the disks D are color coded to each of theplayers so as to enable the effective scoring on the mat M. Note thatthe combination of tally scoring and mental recall scoring affords aflexible arithmetic training device.

In general, the game will be played until one of the players attains apredetermined total score which may be required to be attained in aparticular pattern. Thereupon, that player is the winner of thatparticular game. Of course, the game structure hereof is capable of awide number of variations and combinations in use, the play of whichprovides effective training in arithmetic.

The basic element of the structure hereof is embodied in the apparatus Awhich will now be considered in greater structural detail. As shown inFIG. 2, the apparatus includes a housing member 24 in the shape of asomewhat truncated cone, the upper end of which is terminated by aclosure cap or cover 26 which is integrally formed with the housingmember 241. From the cover 26, the housing member Zidefines asymmetrical right-circular conical form extending downward with aneverincreasing diameter to terminate at a base 28. The housing member 24and the cover 26 may be formed of metal. plastic, composition or any ofa variety of other generally durable materials.

The bottom of the apparatus A is closed by a floor structure 30 which isgenerally circular and concentric with the housing member 24. The floorstructure 30 defines somewhat of a disk shape, with an external upwardlyextending annular flange 32, thereby providing an adjacent annulartrough M. The underside of the floor structure is supported by anannular downwardly extending flange 33. From the annular trough 34, theupper surface of the floor structure 30 defines a slight rise, extendinginwardly to a centrally located bearing 36 which is defined in a stud37.

A vertical rotary shaft 38 isjoumalled into the bearing 36 and extendsupwardly through a top bearing 40 (centrally defined in the cover 26) toreceive the spinning knob I2. The shaft 38 also passes through a rotarycentral distributor struc' ture 42 which is shown in a plan view in FIG.3. The structure 42 is annular including an external flange or ridge 44for mating alignment with the tapered interior of the housing member 24.The distributor structure 42 is somewhat concave at its upper surface,e.g., tapered downward and inwardly, to provide a dish surface which isinterrupted by radial risers 46. Spaced between the risers 46 so as tolie somewhat near the center of the distributor structure 42, in wells47, ports 48 are defined, which pass the ball B.

The central shaft 38 includes radially extending flanges 52v and 54which afford support to the cap or cover 26 and the distributorstructure 42. Additionally, a larger rotary flange or disk 56 is affixedon the shaft 38 between the flanges 52and 54, having a flat uppersurface and a somewhat convex lower surface (for added strength). Thedisk 56 serves to interrupt the free fall of a ball B from an entry portIt) to the distributor structure 42.

In view of the above preliminary description, a complete and detailedunderstanding of the system hereof may now best be presented byconsidering the operation of the apparatus A during an exemplarysequence of use, while concurrently introducing further structuralelements thereof. Accordingly, the initial step in using the apparatusinvolves manually setting the internal rotary structure in motion bygrasping and spinning the knob 12 (FIG. 2). The rotating structureincluding the striker disk 56 and the distributor structure 42, asinterference members, is relatively light and in view of the bearingsprovided within the apparatus A, it continues to revolve for a prolongedperiod of time.

With the rotary internal structure moving, a ball B is dropped throughone of the entry ports 10 (of the players choice) to travel over arandom path in falling through the housing member 7A. Specifically, theball will initially strike the upper flat surface of the disk 56 to bedeflected outwardly and usually strike the internal surface of thehousing member 24 before falling to the rotating distributor structure42. The ball may dance about on the distributor structure 42, however,in due course will be captured between a pair of the risers 46 to rollinwardly and fall through one-of the ports 48 (FIG. 3).

The ball B then falls to the floor structure 30 (FIG. 4) and again maydance about between tapered radial ridges 31 (FIG. 4). Thereafter, theball B will fall into one of the spaces between the ridges 31 to exitfrom the apparatus A through one of the exit ports. Specifically,several of these ports, e.g., ports 14, 15, 16, 17 and 19 are definedbetween the housing member 24 and the floor structure 30. Upon passingfrom one of the exit ports, the ball dwells in a defined segment of thetrough 34. It is to be noted that the trough is segmented by smallspherical abutments 60 (FIG. 4) which rise into the annular trough 34.

Whether a player actually observes the ball exiting from a port or not,the exit port from which the ball exits is clearly indicated by thesegment of the trough in which the ball continues to dwell.

Accordingly, the exit of the ball B from a particular port, manifests anumeral to the players. Specifically, for example, if the ball exitsfrom the port 14, in the structure a shown, the numeral 5 is manifest.Similarly, if the ball exits from the port 15, the numeral 7" isindicated while the port 16 indicates the value 9" and so on.

According to one format of play, the players drops the ball through theapparatus A several times during his tum at play and each time mentallysums the indicated number to his current sum or score. At the end of histum at play, he places disks D on the mat M to tally his prior scorealong with the increment accumulated during his immediately past turn.Of course, various scoring rules are adaptable to the structuredisclosed herein and in that regard, a players total score may berounded off as for example to multiples of 25 or alternatively theplayer may commit a remainder number to memory.

In the use of the apparatus A, various significance may be attached toexist between the exit ports and the scoring areas 22. For example,these components may be associated on various numerical and color basis.However, these aspects of the structure are generally considered to beperipheral hereto with the primary significance of the structurerelating particularly to the closed housing of a particular shape, inassociation with an internal striker structure which functions to varythe path through the apparatus from a particular one of the entry ports10 to a particular one of the identified exit ports.

As indicated above, the housing member 24 may be formed of variousmaterials, using various production techniques and that considerationapplies as well to other elements of the structure. Specifically, thefloor structure 30 may be formed of metal or plastic by variouswell-known forming techniques. Somewhat similarly, the components of theinternal rotary striker apparatus may also be formed of metal andplastic or a combination thereof using well established productiontechniques. With re ard to the mat M various fabrics or plastic sheets,e.g., fi m material may be effectively utilized. in

this regard, silk screen or other techniques can be employed toplaceindicia upon the mat M in accordance with the particular form ofthe defined game.

As indicated, the particular format and minor structural variations arealmost endless in association with the structure hereof and in thatregard the scope hereof is to be interpreted in accordance with theclaims as follows:

1. A game structure for use with a ball or the like, for indicating oneof a plurality of random events, as for manifesting a number to be addedto a sum, comprising:

a housing member having a somewhat truncated-conical shape extendingfrom a circular base upward to a top of lesser diameter than said base;

a cover member for said top of said housing member, said cover memberdefining at least one entry port to receive said ball;

a floor structure affixed to the base of said housing member defining aplurality of exit ports for said ball with said housing member, saidfloor structure defining a downwardly sloping surface extendingoutwardly from a central location thereon and further defining sectionsidentified with a said number;

a rotary means affixed to extend between said central location of saidfloor structure and said cover member and including a knob affixed tothe upper end thereof and positioned outside said housing member, saidknob for actuating said rotary structure;

an interference distributor member separating said housing member intoupper and lower sections, and defining radially extending ridges andwell recesses therebetween with ports therein to pass said ball; and

at least one interference rotary striker member affixed to extendradially from said rotary means in said upper section of said housing,to interrupt the free fall of a ball through said housingmember.

1. A game structure for use with a ball or the like, for indicating oneof a plurality of random events, as for manifesting a number to be addedto a sum, comprising: a housing member having a somewhattruncated-conical shape extending from a circular base upward to a topof lesser diameter than said base; a cover member for said top of saidhousing member, said cover member defining at least one entry port toreceive said ball; a floor structure affixed to the base of said housingmember defining a plurality of exit ports for said ball with saidhousing member, said floor structure defining a downwardly slopingsurface extending outwardly from a central location thereon and furtherdefining sections identified with a said number; a rotary means affixedto extend between said central location of said floor structure and saidcover member and including a knob affixed to the upper end thereof andpositioned outside said housing member, said knob for actuating saidrotary structure; an interference distributor member separating saidhousing member into upper and lower sections, and defining radiallyextending ridges and well recesses therebetween with ports therein topass said ball; and at least one interference rotary striker memberaffixed to extend radially from said rotary means in said upper sectionof said housing, to interrupt the free fall of a ball through saidhousing member.